still broke; sometimes knitting

Day: July 1, 2009

Why I cannot keep aran in its proper place on the wool-weight spectrum will perhaps remain a mystery for the ages.

It has something to do, I think, with the fact that, in my mind, I associate “aran” with a traditional sweater, one of those knit on tiny needles using tiny wool for burly fisherman who might be swept out to sea and a watery grave and thus have their initials knit into the fabric. You know, Kleider machen Leute taken to its logical extreme. And which wikipedia says isn’t even true.

Anyway, I didn’t want a fisherman’s sweater — traditional, for identification (apocryphal), or otherwise — but a lovely shawl: namely, Aestlight. Inspired by coughcopiedfromcough two test-kint versions alreadyfinished, I started troweling for tweedy wool.

And that’s where I made my mistake. My head was turned by the superior yardage of the Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran and without thinking, I placed my order. Only to be confronted a few days later with some very chunky wool. Which is now becoming a very chunky shawl.

I am resigned and stoic about my fate. In the end, and come winter,* I think the shawl will serve its chunky purpose. I’ve also ordered some 4-ply wool, just in case.

* There is winter in Nashville, right? I’m betting a lot on this season actually existing.